State v. Ober, 493 A.2d 493 (N.H. 1985). · Go Syfert
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State v. Ober, 493 A.2d 493 (N.H. 1985). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
12 citation events (8 in the last 25 years) across 2 distinct courts.
Top citers, strongest first. 4 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Appeal of Waterman
N.H. · 2006 · confidence medium
While numerous courts, including this court, have ruled that polygraph test results are inadmissible as evidence of guilt or innocence in criminal trials, see State v. Ober, 126 N.H. 471,471-72 (1985), courts have found that the unreliability of polygraph test results for these purposes does not negate their utility for other purposes.
cited Cited as authority (rule) In re Grimm
N.H. · 1993 · confidence medium
State v. French, 119 N.H. 500, 503 , 403 A.2d 424, 426 , cert. denied, 444 U.S. 954 (1979); State v. Ober, 126 N.H. 471, 471-472 , 493 A.2d 493, 493 (1985).
discussed Cited "see" State of New Hampshire v. Nestor Roman (2×)
N.H. · 2023 · signal: see · confidence high
See State v. Ober, 126 N.H. 471, 471-72 (1985).1 Therefore, according to the defendant, the State’s reference to such medical records was “for its own advantage” because it forced the defendant to either address this evidence — 1 The defendant argues that State v. Ober, 126 N.H. 471 (1985), is analogous to the case at hand “for the notion that mere reference to previously excluded or inadmissible evidence, as well as inferences that may be drawn therefrom, is prejudicial, creates a misleading advantage, and, in some cases . . . constitutes reversible error.” We disagree with the de…
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State of New Hampshire v. Theadore Mitchell
N.H. · 2014 · signal: see also · confidence medium
LaForest, 106 N.H. at 161 ; see also State v. Ober, 126 N.H. 471,471-72 (1985) (stating that we have “consistently held that the results of polygraph tests are not admissible as evidence of guilt or innocence in criminal trials”).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
The State of New Hampshire
v.
William Ober
No. 84-440.
Supreme Court of New Hampshire.
May 6, 1985.
493 A.2d 493
Stephen E. Merrill, attorney general (Tina Schneider, attorney, on the brief and orally), for the State., James J. Fitzpatrick, of Portsmouth, by brief and orally, for the defendant.
Cited by 5 opinions  |  Published

Memorandum Opinion

The defendant was convicted on two counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault. RSA 632-A:2 (Supp. 1983). He appeals the Superior Court’s (Bean, J.) denial of his motions for a mistrial and for a directed verdict.

During the trial by jury, the prosecutor asked a police officer whether the officer had requested the victim to take a polygraph test. The defendant objected and moved for a mistrial. The trial court denied the motion and instructed the jury to disregard the question. If we fail to reverse this conviction, we risk creating the impression that such a reference to a polygraph test is error, but not reversible error.

We have consistently held that the results of polygraph tests are not admissible as evidence of guilt or innocence in criminal[*472] trials. State v. French, 119 N.H. 500, 503, 403 A.2d 424, 426, cert. denied, 444 U.S. 954 (1979); State v. Stewart, 116 N.H. 585, 588-89, 364 A.2d 621, 623-24 (1976); State v. LaForest, 106 N.H. 159, 160-61, 207 A.2d 429, 430-31 (1965). This rule of inadmissibility is based upon the unreliability of such tests, as well as the danger that a jury will rely upon them to establish the truth or falsity of a witness’ statements. State v. French, supra at 503, 403 A.2d at 426. Accordingly, it is error to refer to such a test.

A question asking whether a victim has been asked to take a polygraph test cannot produce admissible evidence. Furthermore, if the jury speculates from such a question that the victim was not asked to take a polygraph test, the victim’s credibility will be enhanced. Because the prosecutor’s attempt to bolster the State’s witness by a reference to a polygraph test was, therefore, not harmless beyond a reasonable doubt, State v. Ruelke, 116 N.H. 692, 694, 366 A.2d 497, 498 (1976), we must reverse and remand for a new trial.

The defendant also argues that denial of his motion for a directed verdict was error because the prosecution introduced insufficient evidence to prove sexual penetration. We have reviewed the evidence presented at trial and find that this argument is without merit.

Reversed and remanded.